Information and awareness of diagnosis and progression of cancer in adult and elderly cancer patients

Aims and background: The present study examines the effects of physicians' attitudes towards providing information about diagnosis and progression of disease to cancer patients. The aims of the study were to: a) establish how many patients (subdivided into an adult and an elderly group) were informe d and how many were aware of the diagnosis and progression of disease; b) i dentify possible significant differences between the two groups as regards information and awareness of disease; c) determine possible significant dif ferences between information about diagnosis and disease progression and be tween awareness of diagnosis and progression within each group, and d) iden tify the patients' real needs. Methods and study design: A total of 311 adults and 92 elderly cancer patie nts were enrolled in the study. A semi-structured clinical interview was em ployed to assess the "information" and "awareness" variables and the patien ts' needs. Statistical analyses were made with the chi squared test. Results: Significant differences were observed between the two groups as re gards information and awareness of diagnosis. Within each group, we found s ignificant differences between information about diagnosis and progression and between awareness of diagnosis and progression. The principle needs exp ressed in both groups were to have clear information and emotional containm ent. Conclusions: The results of the study showed that physicians informed a gre ater number of adult than elderly patients and more often during the early rather than in the more advanced stages of the disease.